The Who and Ron Wood lead tributes to Ian McLagan

The Who and Ron Wood have separately paid tribute to Ian McLagan, who died yesterday [December 3].

Writing on Twitter, The Whosaid: “So very sad to hear of the news about #IanMcLagan who passed away following a stroke on Wednesday 2 December. RIP Mac.”

Meanwhile, Wood paid tribute to both his former bandmate Ian McLagan and the Rolling Stones’ saxophone player Bobby Keys, who died on December 2. Wood Tweeted: “God bless Bobby and Mac”.

Earlier, Kenney Jones had commented, “I am completely devastated by this shocking news and I know goes for Ronnie and Rod also.”

The keyboard player’s death was confirmed in a post on his website yesterday evening [December 3].

“It is with great sadness and eternal admiration that we report the passing of rock and roll icon Ian McLagan. Ian was a member of the Small Faces and Faces and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 2012. He died today, December 3, 2014, surrounded by family and friends in his adopted hometown of Austin, Tx, due to complications from a stroke suffered the previous day. He was 69 years old.”

The Faces split in 1975, and McLagan began work as a session musician, playing with the likes of the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Joe Cocker, Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry, Bonnie Raitt and Frank Black over the years.

He also performed regularly with Billy Bragg, who paid tribute to the keyboard player on Twitter, writing: “I have lost a dear friend and British rock has lost one of its greatest players. RIP Ian McLagan”.